High Court overturns ruling that halted construction firms’ interdict bid

The University of Mpumalanga is at the centre of a legal battle in which two construction giants have dragged it, community leaders and police bosses to court over a R500-million construction project marred by threats.

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

The Mpumalanga High Court has overturned a ruling that had halted an urgent interdict bid brought by NPE Construction (Pty) Ltd and Trencon Construction (Pty) Ltd.

The two companies oversee major development works at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela.

In 2023, the companies claimed a group of individuals had stormed the site, making threats and causing damage.

Court papers detail a tense standoff, including that an attorney was attacked, and a vehicle vandalised, leaving staff feeling unsafe.

The construction companies turned to the Mbombela Magistrates’ Court, seeking an order to bar the group from returning to the site.